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Men's Top Health Issues
Mostly Preventable
Here's a snapshot of the 10 leading health concerns for American men in 2002: Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004
No 1 - Heart Disease - make healthy lifestyle changes and get appropriate treatment for other conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Don't smoke or use other tobacco products.
Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat foods. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges. Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Control your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about a low daily dose of aspirin.
No 2 - Cancer - Lung cancer - 90 percent of it is caused by cigarette smoking and is the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. Prostate and colorectal cancer - both of which are associated with a high-fat diet are the second and third leading causes of cancer death in men.
Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods. Maintain a healthy weight. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Limit your exposure to sun and use sunscreen. Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. Be aware of potential cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in your home and workplace, and take steps to reduce your exposure to these substances. Have regular preventive health screenings. Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.
No 3 - Accidents (unintentional injuries) - Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause. More than twice as many men (31,064) as women (14,316) died in traffic accidents. Male drivers involved in such accidents were almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated. To reduce your chances of a fatal crash:
Poisoning was the second-leading cause of fatal injury to men. To reduce the risk of poisoning:
Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near bedrooms in your house. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected each year Read and follow label instructions for household products - Turn on a light when giving or taking medicine and follow label instructions
- Ventilate areas in which you use chemical products
- Post the poison control number, (800) 222-1222 by each telephone in your home
Falls and drowning were the third and fourth leading causes of fatal injury to men. Common-sense precautions such as using a safety ladder, placing nonskid mats in showers and tubs, and never swimming alone in a large or unfamiliar body of water can reduce the risks.
Workplace accidents are also a significant cause of fatal injury to me.
No 4 - Stroke - You can control some stroke risks such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes.
Additional preventative measures:
- Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fat
- Don't smoke
- Control diabetes
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week
- Manage stress
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Talk with your doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin
No 5 - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - COPD includes a group of chronic lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It's strongly associated with lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The main cause is smoking. Men who smoke are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who've never smoked.
Some preventative measures you can take:
No 6 - Diabetes - Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Excess body fat, especially around the middle, is an important risk factor for diabetes. About 60 percent of people who have the disease are either overweight or obese.
The diabetes complications most likely to be fatal are heart disease and stroke, which occur at two to four times the average rate in people with diabetes.
An estimated one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don't know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop complications such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), nerve damage causing pain or loss of sensation in the hands or feet, vision loss or kidney disease.
Some preventative measure you can take:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.
- Know your family's diabetes history and discuss it with your doctor.
No. 7- Pneumonia and Influenza - You can reduce the risk of complications and death from pneumonia and influenza by getting immunized. A yearly flu shot is about 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by at least half.
No. 8- Suicide
People at risk of suicide may:
Be depressed, moody, socially withdrawn or aggressive Have suffered a recent life crisis Show changes in personality Feels worthless Abuse alcohol or drugs Have frequent thoughts about death Talk about death and self-destruction
If you find yourself avoiding others, feeling hostile and worthless, thinking about death and using alcohol and drugs to numb your pain, talk with your doctor. In an urgent situation, an emergency room or crisis center can help. Friends or family members may be the first to notice your uncharacteristic behavior. Take their advice and seek help.
No. 9- Kidney disease - Kidney failure, is most often a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure. Another cause of kidney failure is overuse of medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil Motrin, others) that are toxic to the kidneys.
Some preventive measures you can take:
Drink plenty of fluids. Exercise regularly. Maintain your proper weight. Don't smoke. Get checked regularly for diabetes and high blood pressure. Limit your use of over-the-counter pain relievers. Take all medications only as directed.
No. 10- Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis - the leading cause is alcoholism. Other causes include hepatitis B and C and certain inherited diseases such as hemochromatosis, (abnormal amounts of iron accumulate in the liver).
Some preventive measures you can take:
Don't drink alcohol in excess. Take precautions when using possibly hazardous chemicals. Practice safe sex. Don't inject street drugs. Take medications only as directed. Get a hepatitis B vaccination if you're at risk. If you develop viral hepatitis, remain under the care of your doctor until you've recovered. Maintain a healthy weight.
The bottom line: Be concerned about health risks, but don't panic. Do all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle--eat healthy foods, stay physically active, don't smoke, get regular checkups and guard against accidents. By making these preventive measures a way of life, you'll increase your chances of staying vital and active into your 80's and 90's -well beyond the statistical average of 74.5 years old.
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